A NEW MAN: Adam Johnson has rediscovered the form which saw him earn a big money move to Manchester City in 2010 [GETTY]

Playing badly, in a poor side, for a manager neither he nor his Sunderland team-mates particularly liked.

But since Paolo Di Canio was replaced by Gus Poyet in October, Johnson has been catapulted on a journey out of hell.

Now Johnson is hoping the final destination is football paradise.

Under Di Canio, the Black Cats were a team at war and in crisis, anchored to the foot of the table with the dressing room in open revolt with their madcap Italian boss.

Six months on and while Sunderland remain in relegation trouble, they’re in their first cup final in 22 years and dreaming of making two trips to Wembley if they can maintain their remarkable cup record under their charismatic manager.

Johnson knows he is a long-shot for the World Cup after missing out on Roy Hodgson’s England squad for next Wednesday’s friendly against Denmark.

But he still reckons a campaign which promised so little at the start, could turn into the most memorable of his career.

“In May, this could turn out to be one of the best seasons in Sunderland’s history,” he said.

“At the beginning, it could have been the worst. We were seven or eight points adrift at one stage.

“Now with a Capital One Cup final and a chance to play in the semi-final of the FA Cup and a better chance of escaping the drop, it could be a great year.

“There have been ups and downs but now it’s more stable and we’re going in the right direction.

“It’s been difficult for everyone but this is definitely the best it’s been in my two years at the club.”

Johnson won the Premier League and the FA Cup with tomorrow’s opponents Manchester City but says victory would eclipse all his achievements at the Etihad Stadium.

Yet there is a part of him that still casts envious glances at the riches he left behind in pursuit of regular first team football.

NO ILL WILL: Johnson loved his time at Manchester City but is determined to put one over them on Sunday [GETTY]

“In May, this could turn out to be one of the best seasons in Sunderland’s history, now with a Capital One Cup final and a chance to play in the semi-final of the FA Cup and a better chance of escaping the drop, it could be a great year”

Adam Johnson

He still keeps in touch with his old team-mates and only last weekend, played golf with several of them: “James Milner won, he’s very good,” he said.

Despite falling out with ex-City boss Roberto Mancini over his lack of opportunities, he holds no grudges.

He played 97 times in two-and-a-half years there and said: “I loved it there.

“It’s a great club and but for the circumstances, I’d still be there.

“You want to win medals and I did that but I was disappointed the way it ended. I was not asking to play every week - I knew I couldn’t - I just asked to play one in four, simple as that.

“I’d do it all over again, having that chance to play for City, the way they’re going. I’d never change it.

“The way the club was fun, the way I was looked after, I couldn’t fault them. I just wanted my fair share and to have a manager who had trust in me.”

When City beat Stoke in the 2011 FA Cup final, it ended a barren run of 35 years since their last trophy, but if Sunderland triumph tomorrow, it will feel very different for Johnson.

And not just because he’ll be the only Mackem in Poyet’s side.

“We knew we had to win that game,” he said. “For the fans, it was probably more of a relief.

“But I always felt there was only one team going to win that game and as soon as we did, we just went on and on.

“Now, City expect to win and the fans are wanting that success every year. They’ll be disappointed if they’re not winning two or three trophies every year.

“It’s different here. A different sort of pressure.

“For City, defeat will mean massive failure, won’t it? For us after the start to the season we had, it’s just amazing to get there.”

Not that Johnson will settle for second best. Having been brought up on the tales of Bob Stokoe, Jimmy Montgomery and the boys of 1973, he knows the current team are 90 minutes away from Mackem immortality.

“I see Monty from time to time and know what a legend he is,” added Johnson.

“It’s not just for that one day but that cup final really made him what he is today.

“He’s a legend forever and that could happen to one of us on Sunday, couldn’t it?

“One moment can change a lifetime. If you score a last minute winner, that’s it - you can come into the stadium any time you want for however many years!”